S.Africa's Mandela 'not yet fully recovered' -spokesman

December 27, 2012|Reuters

* Mandela discharged late on Wednesday

* Spokesman says Mandela well enough to be home

* Receiving care at Johannesburg residence

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Former South AfricanPresident Nelson Mandela is doing well after being dischargedfrom hospital, although he is still not fully recovered, agovernment spokesman said on Thursday.

"He is not yet fully recovered, but he has sufficientlymoved forward so that he can be discharged," Mac Maharaj toldlocal broadcaster eNCA.

"He is sufficiently well to be home."

The 94-year-old anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prizelaureate was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, ending anearly three-week stay during which he was treated for a lunginfection and had surgery to remove gallstones.

Mandela, who has been in frail health for several years, isnow receiving care at his suburban Johannesburg home.

Mandela has a history of lung problems dating back to whenhe contracted tuberculosis while in jail as a politicalprisoner. He spent 27 years in prison, including 18 years on thewindswept Robben Island off Cape Town.

The former president was admitted to a Pretoria hospital onDec. 8 and this was his longest stay in a hospital since he wasreleased from prison in 1990.

Current President Jacob Zuma visited Mandela on ChristmasDay and said the former South African leader was doing muchbetter, making progress and in good spirits.

Mandela was also admitted to a hospital in February becauseof abdominal pain but released the following day after a keyholeexamination showed there was nothing seriously wrong with him.

He has spent most of his time since then in another home inQunu, his ancestral village in the impoverished Eastern Capeprovince.